Real Estate Services Program Manager

City of Austin • Austin, AR

1d • $91,080 - $117,000

About The Position

At the City of Austin, we are more than just an employer—we are a vibrant community dedicated to shaping one of the nation's most dynamic and innovative cities. As we strive to fulfill our commitment as public servants, it is important that we ground our efforts in a set of guiding principles – Empathy, Ethics, Excellence, Engagement, and Equity – anchors in delivering services that significantly impact the lives of Austinites. Joining the City of Austin means embarking on a purposeful career, contributing to the community, and being part of a forward-thinking organization that values every employee. Austin Project Connect (APC) and Austin Financial Services (AFS)-Real Estate are seeking a skilled Real Estate Services Program Manager to join our collaborative team in Austin, Texas. This position within APC will work directly with AFS-Real Estate Services to support the planning, coordination, and execution of capital projects related to Project Connect including light rail and associated facilities. This position is responsible for providing program oversight, planning, and recommendations for Council action for real estate acquisitions, dispositions, conveyances, exchanges of property, leasing, and/or appraisals in support of City of Austin’s real estate transactions.

Requirements

• Knowledge of principles, practices, and procedures pertaining to the acquisition, management, appraisal, and land use of real property for public purposes.
• Knowledge of Local real estate market.
• Knowledge of business strategies, objectives, departmental goals, and initiatives.
• Knowledge of fiscal planning and budget preparation.
• Knowledge of supervisory and managerial techniques and principles.
• Knowledge of research techniques.
• Knowledge of municipal government operations and applicable regulations.
• Skill in interpreting real estate law and legal contracts.
• Skill in negotiating real estate transactions such as leases, acquisitions, easements, and other properties to accomplish objectives.
• Skill in interpreting legal descriptions of leases, real estate, easements, and similar properties.
• Skill in interpreting, organizing, executing, and coordinating assignments.
• Skill in coaching and developing subordinates at all levels.
• Skill in oral and written communication.
• Skill in handling multiple tasks and prioritizing.
• Skill in using computers and related software applications.
• Skill in data analysis and problem solving.
• Ability to work with frequent interruptions and changes in priorities.
• Ability to exercise good judgment, tact, and diplomacy in all public dealings.
• Ability to train others.
• Ability to quickly recognize and analyze irregular events.
• Ability to think strategically while maintaining an appreciation and understanding of past practices.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective communication and working relationships with stakeholders, boards and commissions, elected officials, City employees, and the public.
• Graduation with a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in Business Administration, Public Administration, Real Estate, or in a field related to the job, plus six (6) years of experience in real estate activities, including three (3) years of experience in a lead or supervisory capacity.
• Experience may substitute for education up to four (4) years.

Nice To Haves

• Experience successfully negotiating and acquiring easements and fee land rights, by voluntary means and/or through the eminent domain process.
• Experience successfully facilitating title curative issues and real estate closings.
• Experience preparing easements, contracts, deeds, eminent domain petitions, inter-local agreements, license agreements, encroachment agreements, and other legal documents necessary for conveyance or agreements regarding real property rights.
• Experience working on utility infrastructure project teams to develop & design project alignments, and identify issues with regard to real estate and developing estimates for land rights acquisitions.
• Experience providing a high level of customer service to a variety of diverse internal and external customers both one-on-one and a group basis.
• Experience reading and interpreting site plans, survey illustrations and legal descriptions, construction plans, and experience with the City of Austin Land Development processes.

Responsibilities

• Participates in short- and long- range planning activities for real estate programs, serves as an advisor in support of department initiatives.
• Oversees, develops, and monitors City real estate programs; and plans the scope, criteria, and timelines for those programs.
• Develops and implements strategies through grants and alternative funding sources.
• Manages the purchasing procurement process; monitors contract services to ensure compliance with contractual obligations.
• Develops training materials, oversees, and facilitates training for departmental programs and initiatives.
• Establishes and implements communication strategies to improve access to City-sponsored programs.
• Evaluates program effectiveness and efficiency to meet departmental business goals.
• Assists and coordinates the preparation of legal documents, presents comprehensive and detailed reports by compiling, reviewing, and analyzing data; provides written and/or oral reports.
• Acts as liaison and represents the department to City Council, City departments, boards and commissions, citizens and other stakeholders.
• Responds to and resolves sensitive inquiries and complaints, and issues from both internal and external sources.
• Conducts research and provides data results to other departments, agencies or specific groups.
• Responsible for the full range of supervisory activities including selection, training, evaluation, counseling, and recommendation for dismissal.
• Serve as the main point of contact between Austin Project Connect, Austin Financial Services and Austin Transit Partnership, facilitating communication and collaboration to support Project Connect’s goals.
• Participate, coordinate and act as an advisor in both short and long term planning activities with City Departments on upcoming contracts with Austin Transit Partnership, TXDOT, CTRMA, Cap Metro and Travis County that involve a real estate component.
• Provide a leadership role when representing the City’s interest as a stakeholder with respect to real estate matters for Project Connect light rail.
• Serve as an advisor to City-owned utilities with respect to real estate interest to ensure that the various utilities' needs are addressed.
• Interact with developers and engineers to cultivate creative ideas on potential solutions to competing needs.
• Serve as the City’s representative to coordinate site inspections to conduct appraisal and/or surveying work to ensure the associated scope of work and criteria is conducted within established timelines.
• Coordinate with City utilities on possible utility conflicts during the Subsurface Utility Engineering Report through Level D-easement records including GIS records, Level B-utility/construction records, and Level A-pot hole reports
• Track and monitor the City’s financial contribution under Texas Government Code, Chapter 791 with respect to real estate transactions, generated as a result of the interlocal agreements. These ILAs address the relocation or removal of City utilities through Utility Reimbursement Agreements as provided under Texas Transportation code sections 203.092 and 203.0935. These tasks involves reviewing utility plans and easement documentation for reimbursable expenses, non-reimbursable expenses, betterments and critical infrastructure requirements. It also involves providing information on past utility relocations on ATP right-of-way projects and assembling easement documentation required for reimbursement eligibility adjustments.

Benefits

• Competitive Benefits: Enjoy a comprehensive compensation package that includes generous leave, work-life balance programs, and extensive benefits.
• Retirement Security: Plan for the future with the City of Austin Employees' Retirement System.
• Sustainable Transportation Options: Commute easily with access to public transit and bike-friendly infrastructure.
• Focus on Wellness: Stay healthy through wellness programs, on-site fitness centers, and mental health support.
• Career Growth: Advance your skills and expertise with professional development and leadership opportunities.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees